London Calling | Guerilla Zoo and their latest offering Modern Panic III

We are always about bringing exciting experiences to those willing to explore beyond the usual.’

Guerilla Zoo are, in their own words, a ‘collective army or artists musicians and performers’ who look to inspire and create unforgettable events. Exhibitions that will leave an indelible imprint in visitors minds. London Calling’s Katie Moritz was lucky enough to catch up with James Elphick, the curator of their latest offering, Modern Panic III.London Calling: What can our readers expect when they come to the show? Any highlights?James Elphick: The art at Modern Panic is chosen for its uncanny power to engage the viewer. We are hosting a series of live art evenings with a selection of cutting edge live art's practitioners such as Nicola Canavan, Jon John, Lydia Darling, Hellen Burroughs, Nina Davies and many more. We are also hosting the UK launch of beat generation artist Brion Gysin's drugless high - the dreamachine, a hallucination inducing device.LC: How did Guerrilla Zoo begin?JE: We started about 8 years ago, our early events combined art, music & performance with a mix of established artists and new comers! From these shows spawned art exhibitions, immersive theatre productions, music concerts and insane parties. We are always about bringing exciting experiences to those willing to explore beyond the usual.LC: What is the strangest thing you’ve seen at Guerrilla Zoo?JE: We once did an event inspired by William S Burroughs called Interzone where we build a ramshackle city and the audience dressed as it's wild inhabitants.LC: What’s your favourite item in this collection and why?JE: We are lucky to have a few pieces of Charles Bronson's work. A prisoner for 39 years and kept mainly in solitary confinement. Exhibiting his work helps us highlight the conditions he's kept in and which are reflected in his art.LC: How did you go about curating a show with such different contents?JE: We do an open call for artists and accept submissions from all around the world via our website, alongside inviting some established artists we admire. The world selected is a slice of the beating heart of the new wave of panic artists - work designed to provoke a reaction in the viewer, whether it's positive or negative, something to shake you awake to know you are alive.LC: Tell me about the artist who was the stylist for Lady Gaga and Bats for Lashes and how they developed work for this show?JE: Natasha Lawes is an artist that makes unusual 'wearable' pieces for the likes of Kylie Minogue (featured in her new book which launches next week), Lady Gaga & Bat For Lashes. For Modern Panic she is combining her Tech FX costume skills with her sculpture and art skills to create installation pieces especially for us!LC: Tell us about your take on modern taxidermy and who is hot to collect right now.JE: Taxidermy never really disappeared it was just hidden and taboo for a long while. We exhibited the work of Berlin based Iris Schieferstienlast year, http://www.guerrillazoo.com/iris-schieferstein.html her work is brilliant and I highly recommend you check her work out. This year we will be featuring London based Charlie Tuesday Gates, who also teaches D.I.Y taxidermy classes, for those interested in learning the art!LC: What are neo-Victorian illustration and insect flower sculptures? They sound fascinating.JE: Come to the exhibition and check out the work of Dan Hiller who works with old Victorian imagery and combines it with animalistic elements and Cedric Laquieze who combines insects to create fantastical eerily real fairies and skeletons and flowers to create new forms of possible life!LC: Tell us the best exhibition you’ve been to this year. Why so?JE: Imitation by Lucy Sparrow, an amazing artist who works in felt and created some jaw dropping politically satirical spins on modern works of art, but in felt! She did Damian Hirst’s Shark in a tank, Litchenstien, Picasso and Grayson Perry. You have got to see her work. On Tuesday she covered Antony Gormley's Angel of the North in a 50ft scarf! http://tyneandwear.sky.com/news/article/47468LC: Do you have any advice for aspiring curators?JE: Work with people who inspire you and help your contemporaries, we are all walking the same difficult path.LC: What is next for you guys?JE: We will be launching a festival next year, part of The Annual Goblin King's Masquerade Ball (http://www.goblin-king.co.uk/) - Everything will be announced very soon!Any artists interested in getting involved in a future exhibition please sign up to our mailing list http://www.guerrillazoo.com/join-mailing-list.html or facebook pagehttp://www.facebook.com/GuerrillaZooNews for announcements.Modern Panic III is taking place at Apiary Studios from the 23rd November to the 2nd December. For further information and details of how to get there please follow this link http://www.guerrillazoo.com/index.html